Winding apparatus



C. A. BRINK.

' WINDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 191B.

Patented June 28, 1921.

2-SHEETSSHEET 1.

C. A. BRiNK.

WINDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED JULY13,19\8.

Patented June 28, W21,

2 SHEEYSSHEET 2.

STATES PATET OFFICE.

CARL A. BRDTK, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAN'T), ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSALWINDING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

WINDING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 13,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL A. BRINK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wind ingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to winding machines and consists particularly of animproved apparatus for use in Winding electrical coils. The object of myimprovement is to provide means for continuously pressin against theperipheral surface. of the col during its Winding to insure a smooth,even disposition of the turns of wire orother conductor in thesuccessive layers; while also facilitating the insertion of strips ofinsulatingmaterial between the layers and preventing them from bucklingor skewing out of position. My improved apparatus is especially adaptedfor use in producing coils of rectangular, polygonal or irregular shapesand for this purpose it consists essentially in means vfor pressing aflexible hand against the periphery of the coil while providing for itstravel thereover as the coil is rotated on its axis.

The manner and means for carrying out the improvement are fullydescribed in the following specification, illustrated by theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate likeparts. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the essen tialelements of a winding machine, comprising the rotating winding mandrel;the traversing Wire-guide; the means for feeding strips of insulationinto the coil; and illustrating my improved pressure-device as employedin connection therewith;

Fig. 2, a side view of the parts shown in Fig. l;

8, a plan View of the pressure-device by itself; and

Fig. l, a side elevation of a modified form of the device shown in Fig.1.

Referring to Figs. '1 and E2 of the drawings, S designates the rotatingwindmgspindie which carries an e'zrpansible arbor or former for the coilC, and G is the traverswire-e'uide adapted to be reciprocatedlongitiuili ally of the mandrel to lay the turns of coiductor in placethereon. These Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1921. 1913. Serial No. 244,788.

velements of the Winding-mechanism may be usually provided, but notherein shown or described. The guide-arm G is preferably constructed ofsheetfimetal, bent to surround the traverse-rod R and clamped thereon bythe screws 9, 9. At its lower end it carries a grooved guide-Wheel Djournaled on a spindle d, and a second, auxiliary guide-pulley E isrotatably mounted on an extension H fastened to the guide-arm G at f.The wire or other attenuated conductor 10 leads from its source ofsupply, not here shown, down over the pulley E and thence around theguide-wheel D to the coil C. The winding-spindle S is rotatedcontinuously during the operation of the machine and the wire w, fedthereto over the guide\vheel D, is traversed back and forth along themandrel F to deposit it in adjacent helices which build up superimposedlayers conforming to the outer contour of the mandrel or former F.

In accordance with a common practice a thin strip of paper or otherinsulating-material is wrapped about each layer of wire to separate itfrom the next succeeding layer applied thereover, and this may beinserted in the coil by manual means or through the intervention ofautomatically-operated instrumentalities as next described. As shown inFig. 1 the present type of machine comprehends a paper-feeding device Pwhich operates to apply the paper or other insulating-strip to the coilafter the completion of each layer of wire-windings. paper 2') is fedfrom beneath the winding: mandrel F through a chute or guideway whichdirects its end into place beneath the wire strand being wound so thatit will'be secured in place thereby as the Wire is laid over itssurface. For feeding the paper a pair of pressure-rollers U, Q arearranged to bear against the strip ,0 passing between them, and thesemay be operated intermit tently as occasion requires, or, in some cases,one of the rollers is driven continuously out of engagement with theother roller, but pressed when the paper is to The strip of lilo fed tothe coil. As the automatic paper-feed is not essential to the presentimprovement it is not herein shown or described in detail; suflice it tostate that after each layer of wire turns is completed the paper is fedforward under the first turn of the wire in the next layer and, beingheld thereby, is wrapped around the coil C to completely cover itssurface. Usually the machine is arranged to sever the strip of paperinto'appropriate lengths in proportion to the length of circumference ofthe coil to be wrapped, and in some cases several thicknesses of paperare laid on one over another to insure complete insulation. As beforestated the machine is refer-ably designed for automatic operation ininserting the insulating sheets or strips, but in some cases the papermight be cut to length previous to its use and inserted by hand, mypresent improved pressure-apparatus being adapted for use with eithermethod of building the coil.

As illustrated in Fig. l, the pressure-device for pressing the layers ofwire-windings into place and for holding and guiding theinsulation-strips against the surface of the coil comprises essentiallyan endless, flexible belt or band B stretched between two spaced-apartpulleys or rollers T, T. The pulleys T, T are journaled on suitablebearings to provide for their rotation as the belt is traveled overtheir peripheries, and preferably they are adjustable in relation to thewinding-spindle to regulate the contact of the belt B against the coil.As shown 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the pulleys T, T are supported from arectangular frame U which comprises a wire-rod 2 bent in U-shape andattached at its ends to an arm 3. The arm 3 is secured to the end of anarm 4 depending from the bearing 1" which forms a part 0 themachine-frame. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, a stud 5 extends through thearm 3 and is screwed into a boss (3 on the arm 4 so that by loosening itthe whole frame I may be rocked on its support to adjust it in angularrelation tothe winding-spindle S. Depending from each side of the framell are two arms 7-T and 8-8 which carry the bearings for the pulleys T.T. The arms 7 and 8 are bored to receive the rod 2 and are split attheir ends to adapt them to be clamped thereover by nicansof thebinderscrews j, y. This arrangement provides for adjusting the arms T-Tand 8 8 in relic tion to each other to stretch the belt l) between thepulleys T,T. At the lower ends of the arms 7 and 8 are split bores 9adapted to receive tubular bushings it) which are clamped therein by thebiinler-scrcws ll. The pulleys T. T are preferably constructed of woodor fiber. to render them light in weight. and have metal bushings l2forced into their axial bores. Extending through the bushings 12 arespindles l3 projecting at the ends to adapt them to be held in thebushings 10 carried at the ends of the arms 7 and 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. v1, 2 and 3, andjust described, I employ a belt B constructed of rubber or otherresilient material so that its stretch will accommodate the irregularform of the coil as the latter is rotated against it. For windingcylindrical coils the belt might be made of fabric, leather or otherinelastic material and this type of belt is also adapted for use on allforms of coil with a slight modification in the means for supporting thepulleys on which it travels. I have shown such a modification of theinvention in F i 4:, the frame U which carries the belt-pu leys T, Tbeing supported on a pivot at its lower end to adapt it to rock awayfrom the winding-spindle in conformity with theirregular eriphery of thecoil against which the belt bears. As here illustrated the frame U ispivoted on a stud or screw 15 with a spring 16 attached to its upperend. The spring 16 is anchored to some fixed part of the machine, notherein shown, and tends to swing the frame U on its pivot to hold thebelt B bearing against the surface of the coil with a slight pressure.As the corners or high points on the periphery of the coil C rotateagainst the belt the frame U will ride up and down with a slight rockingmotion, and therefore it is not required to employ a yieldable orresilient belt with this construction.

Having now described the construction and arrangement of my improveddevice in two of its simplest forms, the method of operationof thecomplete winding apparatus will next be explained: Usually a thin tubeor several thicknesses of paper are placed on the former or mandrel Fbefore starting to windthe coil, thus providing a core m for the layersof wire to be built up thereon. The wire '10 or other strand ofconductor is then led down from its source of supply, over theguide-pulleys E and l) on the, guide-arm G, and its end fastened to thecore in any suitable manner, such as by coiling it several timestherearound. 'hen the winding machine is started the rotation of thespindle S will wind the wire w onto the core. m and meanwhile thereciprocation of the guide G will traverse it back and forth to lay itin closely-adjacent, helical turns. As the conductor in is thus laid inplace the rotation of the former F will causethe belt 13 to travel overits periphery to press the turns of the wire snugly into place andprevent the or springing radially out from the axis of the coil. Thecontact of the surface of the coil with the belt it causes the latter tocontinuously travel on its pulleys T. T while following the contour ofthe winding, the

layers from bulging conform to the contour thereof to press the windingsinto place thereon.

7. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor back andforth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a flexible belt arranged tobear against the periphery of the coil wound on the mandrel, and meansto maintain said belt pressing on the coil under tension to adapt it toconform to the contour thereof to press the layers of winding into placearound the mandrel.

8. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other (:0 iductor backand forth on the mandrel to bi ild up a coil, a flexible belt arrangedto bear against the periphery of the coil Wound on the mandrel and toconform to the contour thereof to press the layers of winding into placethereon, and means to adjust the operative relation between the mandreland belt to regulate the pressure of the belt on the coil.

9. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor back andforth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a pair of rotatable pulleys, anendless belt adapted to travel on the pulleys, and means to adjust theposition of the pulleys in relation to the winding-mandrel to maintainthe belt bearing against the periphery of the coil wound on the mandrelto adapt it to conform to the contour thereof to press the windings intoplace thereon.

10. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor back andforth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a frame, a pair of pulleysjournaled on bearings on the frame. an endless belt extending betweenthe pulleys, and means to adjust the frame in relation to thewinding-mandrel to maintain the pulleys in position to cause the belt tobe traveled against the periphery of the coil wound on the mandrel whileconforming to the contour thereof to press the windings into piacethereon.

11. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingrneans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor back andforth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a pair of rotatable pulleys, anendless belt stretched between the pulleys, means to adjust the pulleysin relation to each otherto regulate the tension on the belt, and meansto adjust the pulleys in relation to the winding-mandrel to maintain thebelt bearing against the coil wound on the mandrel while conforming tothe contour thereof to press the windings into place thereon.

.12. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel,of guidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor backand forth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a frame adjustable inposition in relation to the mandrel, arms projecting from said frame,pulleys journaled at the ends of the arms, means to adjust the arms toregulate the distance between the pulleys, and an endless belt stretchedaround the pulleys to adapt it to be traveled over the periphery of thecoil wound on the mandrel while conforming to the contour thereof topress the windings into place thereon.

13. In a coil-winding apparatus, the combination with thewinding-mandrel, of means to traverse a strand or strands of conductoron the mandrel, means to feed strips of insulating-material into thecoil, and a traveling belt arranged to bear against the periphery of thecoil during the winding to press the insulating-strips into place andprevent them from buckling or skewing.

14:. In a coil-winding apparatus, the combination with a rotatingwinding-mandrel, of a traversing wire-guide for depositing the turns ofconductor in place on the mandrel, means for feeding strips ofinsulating-material to the coil, and a flexible belt arranged to bearagainst the periphery of the coil and to travel 'thereover to Wrap theinsulatingstrips snugly around the surface of the coil.

15. In a coil-winding apparatus, the combination with a rotatingwinding-mandrei, of a reciprocating wire-guide for traversing theconductor-strand on the mandrel, means for feeding strips ofinsulating-material to the coil, and an endless elastic belt arranged totravel over the periphery f the coil to guide and press theinsulation-strips into place in wrapping them around the coil.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature.

CARL A. BRINK.

elasticity of the belt providing the give and take necessary for thevarying diameter of the coil-mass as shown by the dash lines in Fig. 1.IVhen an inelastic belt is used, with the modified form of deviceillustrated in Fig. 4, the pivoted, belt-pulley supporting-frame U rocksup and down under the tension of its spring 16 as the coil C rotatesagainst the belt. With either arrange ment a constant pressure of thebelt against the coil is maintained notwithstanding the unequaldistances of different portions of the surface of the coil from its axisof rotation.

After each layer of wire turns is completed. that is to say, as soon asthe wireguide G reaches the extreme of its traverse in either direction,the paper-feeding device comes into action to feed the insulatingstripinto the coil. This is effected bv the rotation of the coactingfeed-rolls O, O which project the paper strip 7) upwardly toward thesurface of the coil with its leading edge beneath the wire strand 21:.Now, as the wire-guide G moves back across the coil in the oppositedirection from that in which it has just traversed to lay the wire turnsof the preceding layer, the wire strand will be laid on over the paperto cause the latter to be wrapped around the surface of the coil.Meanwhile, the leading edge of the paper strip 2 feeds in under the beltB and is thereby flattened out and pressed into place against theperiphery of the coil. The belt B being traveled by and with the surfaceof the coil assists in drawing the paper strip along with it and at thesame time holds it against skewing while preventing its edges frombuckling or crimping. In this way the paper is caused to feed into thecoil square with its axis, and being pressed flat and ironed downagainst the wire it cannot bulge or wrinkle. Besides serving for thispurpose of pressing the insulating-strips against the coil the travelingbelt B also acts to hold the wire turns firmly in place and to compressthe layers to prevent them from bulging out on the flat sides of thecoil. It has been demonstrated that through the use of my improvedapparatus a much more symmetrical form of coil can be produced, with thelayers of wire compacted into less space and their convolutions heldmore securely and evenly. For this reason the air space in the coil ismaterially lessened while its dimensions are reduced to the minimum; andin addition its whole structure is strengthened and solidified. It willtherefore be seen that my invention not only makes for greater facilityand convenience in winding the coil, tending to increase the rate ofproduction of the machine, but the composition and structure of thewinding are also improved and the commercial value of the productthereby enhanced.

Various modifications other than those herein shown might be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts of'the apparatus withoutdeparting. fromthespirit or scope of the invention; therefore, withoutlimiting myself to the precise embodiment disclosed, what I claim is 1.In an apparatus for winding electrical coils or the like, thecombination with a winding-mandrel, of means to traverse wire or otherstrands of conductor back and forth on the mandrel to build up a coil,and a fiexible band arranged to bear against the surface of the coilwound on the mandrel and to conform to the contour thereof to press thewindings into place and flatten the layers against each other.

2. In a winding apparatus, the combina tion with the winding-mandrel, ofmeans to traverse a strand or strands longitudinally thereof, and aflexible band arranged to bear against the surface of the coil wound onthe mandrel and to conform to the contour thereof to press the windingsinto place.

3. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofmeans to guide a strand or strands of wire onto the winding-mandrel tobuild up a coil, and a flexible band arranged to bear against thesurface of the coil wound on the mandrel while conforming to the contourthereof and to be traveled thereover to press the windings into placeand compress the layers against each other.

4. In a' winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguiding- ,means for traversing strands of wire or other conductor backand forth on the mandrel to build up a coil, an endless flexible band,and 1 pair of pulleys for supporting the band to adapt it to bearagainst the surface of the coil'wound on the mandrel while conforming tothe contour thereof and to be traveled thereover to press the windingsinto place thereon.

5. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel, ofguidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor back andforth on the mandrel to build up a coil, an endless elastic band, and apair of pulleys for supporting the band to adapt it to travel againstthe surface of the coil being wound on the mandrel while conforming tothe contour thereof to press the windings into place.

' 6. In a winding apparatus, the combination with the winding-mandrel,of guidingmeans for traversing strands of wire or other conductor backand forth on the mandrel to build up a coil, a frame mounted oppositethereto. pulleys journaledon the frame, an endless belt stretchedbetween the pulleys, and means for holding the frame with the beltbearing against the periphery of the coil Wound on the mandrel to adaptit to

